With its lairy turbo sitting tall, purple and proud up front, Rashaan McGowan’s glorious AU Falcon was an eye-catcher to say the least as it burned rubber at Hidden Valley Raceway during Gazzanats Darwin. We wasted no time in tracking down the 21-year-old to find out more.
First published in the September 2024 issue of Street Machine
Your Falcon’s one distinctive ride, Rashaan! Tell us about it.
We built the AU three years ago when my old boy and I decided to try something different. We ended up using patio tubing we had lying around to high-mount the GT45 turbo out of the bonnet. It’s got 1650cc injectors, a MagnaFuel 750 pump, FG pistons and rods, and a stage-three cam with valve springs and head studs. We threw in a 6boost manifold, and paired the engine with a BTR gearbox with a shift kit and an EF BorgWarner diff.
A week before Gazzanats, we actually blew up the bottom end, but with the help of my mate Tavian Bryson, we pulled off a 24-hour rebuild. We blew it up at 10pm, had it stripped down by 4am, and then went to work installing a Barra bottom end and ECU to make sure we’d be ready for Darwin.
What’s it built for?
Burnouts and playing on the track when I can. I put it on methanol about five months ago and started testing and fine-tuning it. Over the past four years, I’ve taken it to Motorvation, West Coast Nats and all of the country comps we have around home. There aren’t many track events in Perth that don’t cost big money, so burnouts are a good option, and the competitors are all really friendly.
When did you get into the burnout scene?
I competed in my first burnout comp when I was 12 years old. That was when I first got the AU, which I found sitting in a back paddock at my granddad’s. We decided to pull it out, install a fuel pump, and weld the diff.
So, you’ve been working on cars from a young age?
Yeah, I started modifying cars when I was just nine, with a lot of help from my dad, Shannon. Back then, Dad handed me the keys to my first bush-basher, a manual XE ute, and that’s when I learned to drive out in his paddock. From there, I started tinkering with small mods and learned how to weld.
My dad has taught me a ton about cars. My family runs a workshop called BVK Mechanical, which my granddad started 40 years ago. I worked there during my apprenticeship and earned my trade.
What was your first road car?
A TE Cortina. I bought it when I was 13 and did it up when I got my licence. I’ve still got it, and I’ve also got a TF Cortina, which I’ve built from the ground up; it’s got a built engine and diff and a rollcage. I’ve also got four AUs, a VY drift car that I take out to the track, two more VY Commodores, and a VE. And I’m helping my missus, Chantelle, build her own AU for the next Gazzanats.
How did you go at Gazzanats?
I had an absolute blast. I was given the Fire Crew Choice Award, Best Car Cruised, and won third place in the Superskids. It was a huge surprise given the number of tough builds that were there. I really just went to enjoy the track, but it turned out to be an amazing event between the driving and burnouts. I’ll definitely be heading back next year.
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